I've never known life without Sir Alex. I'm not sure how I'm going to cope without him. He has brought me the happiest times of my life, particularly in 1999. I genuinely don't believe I'll be happier in life than I was in 1999. Even during the sad times, it was always Sir Alex I would wait to hear from to pick me up again. I always knew he would say something to get me going again. The day I met him as a 12 year old was memorable in my life. I stood there speechless unable to get my words out. My mouth open and closed but nothing came out. I just remember him smiling and laughing at me. My mum took the picture but tragically and I don't think I've ever forgiven her, the flash didn't work and the picture never came out. Maybe one day again the opportunity will come. I used to always say ' I dread the day I wake up and Sir Alex isn't in charge of United'. That day finally came and I'm drinking whiskey to help me get through it. I wish him all the best at same time desperately wanting him to stay. ' Every single one of us loves Alex Ferguson, loves Alex Ferguson , loves Alex Ferguson , loves Alex Fergusssooonnn!

As a fan of MUFC from the sixties I wish to thank Sir Alex for putting United back on top & keeping them there. I suffered too many false dawns for 26 years. He is a remarkable man. Thank you , Sir Alex. I wish you a happy & healthy retirement K.B.

I fell in love with United when I turned 16 on 26th May 1999, the day of the treble. A boy in Bangalore, India, obsessed with Cricket, now had a new passion from the moment OLe put toe poked the ball into Bayerns net.

Life has never been the same again, and I am happy that ManUtd has taken over my existence. A major reason for it is Sir. Alex with the dogged spirit of a champion and hallmark of greatness in all his teams. He won the cup winners' cup with Aberdeen.. Aberdeen, beating Real Madrid. And before that ending the reign of Celtic and Rangers in the Scottish league.. Does Moyes have that pedigree ??

Also, keep in mind, most of the top managers, except Jose, have been great players for their club, Ancelotti, Pep, etc.. Fergie was a great striker of his era, does Moyes have that?

And finally, no one seems to be talking bout it, but how will Moyes attract top talent to United? Even Fergie struggled to get players when it was him vs Jose.. This for me is a major drawback of Moyes.. Especially with Fergie's aura staring down on him from the directors' box and Sir. Alex Ferguson Stand...

I met Sir Alex in the late 1990s in the gents of a Glasgow hotel during a sportsman's dinner. he, Wilf McGuinness and a.n.other were the speakers. I later chatted to him and he asked if I followed football (implying that those present were mostly there for the dinner which may have been true). I told him i did and that I watched Dunfermline Athletic home and away. He smiled, and said words to the effect that he once played for them years before my time. I told him I was well aware of what he had done in the black and white shirt and reeled off his record at the club which tickled him. He was a thoroughly nice guy to chat to, no airs or graces at all. He was a good friend to DAFC on more than one occasion. Glad I met him. Real football guy. Wilf was a scream that day too. One of the funniest after dinner speeches I've ever heard.

He was more than a Manager, he was a man, who a fan could look upto, an inspirational Father figure for a fan who has never met him and lives more than a 10,000 miles away. He ran Manchester United like it was it's own child and was vital in it's reconstruction as one of the greatest club in the world. But for me, a fan living in India, and supporting the club since my childhood, his mystique, his presence and his decisions has only given me inspiration on how to handle things in daily life and how to move on from setbacks. Whatever he has done to shape Manchester United, I only applied and tried to emulate it with my own life, for which I'm absolutely grateful for. Now I'm 24 years of age and I don't know a life of a Manchester United without Sir Alex Ferguson and it's like a part of my soul and my childhood being stripped off from me. I wish him all the best for his future, and want him to live a long life and I hope he gets this message that he has been of a great help to people, living so far off and given a lot of joy and inspiration too. Will miss him very much, I say this with a very heavy heart.

You probably won't get many contributions from those on the other side of his move.....

A cold November day and the only Rangers fan in school (in Aberdeenshire in the late 80's no one supported the Old Firm)...'Ha ha Fergie's left !!' he was given a sound hiding for his cheek (he had previous for announcing the Messiah's depature...to Wolves, to Barca....and once to the New York Cosmos )...I mean why would he go to a 'wee club' like Man Utd ?

On the bus home saw the headline on an Evening Express bill board...'Fergie Shock !!...prayed it was about the trout Prince Andrew was to marry.....

'Have you heard ?' enquired my mum as soon as I got thru the door.....I still refused to believe it and kept refusing to believe it until I saw him on North Tonight holding a Red n White scarf that wasn't a Dons one and at a ground that wasn't Pittodrie......flicked over to Reporting Scotland and saw they were saying the same thing.....

It was then it hit home it WAS real he HAD left.....sobbed uncontrollably for what felt like hours.......

I suspect many fans of that 'wee club in Manchester' are feeling the same way today......whilst for a few years it looked like we wouldnae miss him.....alas the last 27 years have seen us fall back to earth with a bang.....I suspect many on Merseyside will be hoping that history repeats itself....

Quite simply the best manager ever.....what he did at Old Trafford is magnificent.....there really arenae words to describe what he did for our wee club in the North East of Scotland though 'making them believe they could climb Everest in their slippers' only starts to do justice to it

I was at the FA Cup semi-final replay in 1999 and it was the best game I'd ever been to (probably still is). When I got back to Manchester I saw an interview with Fergie in which the interviewer pointing out that a red card, extra time and an injury to Schmeichel weren't necessarily ideal ways to win a football match. Fergie's response was that was what makes football great and that it was a match people will be talking about for years to come which is more important. At that time he was a more romantic and idealistic manager and I loved him for it.

My Granddad's brother(William) played with Sir Alex at Rangers. Only briefly, but it was a memory that lasted. His determination was the stand out trait according to William and that has seen him through so much through his life.

Also, whilst manager of St Mirren, my Great Granddad was less than impressed with Sir Alex Ferguson's tactics and teams selection, so wrote him a articulate letter suggesting some of his wisdom. The letter was duly ignored and St Mirren went on to lose the following game. So my Great Granddad in only a Govan native can do, wrote a staunch letter again which had many a swear word in. This time Ferguson did respond to the letter in fantastic fashion, explaining his choices and why he(Ferguson) was right.

Ferguson, throughout his career like a parent has protected and pushed those he has cared for to the highest of merits in football and for that we should be grateful of his determination.

Well, I'm a Liverpool fan, and it's hard to doubt the effect Sir Alex Ferguson has had on world Football, he has promoted loyalty, and the ancient skill of how to get away with chewing gum on live TV. Whilst many may have turned to dislike him, i can't exactly say that i liked him, but 26 years (i think) is a long time in the world of football, and with his success with Manchester United, the man deserves some respect, even if you hate him! But could this be a peak for Manchester United in terms of performance in all competitions? It's important for the right appointment to be made. I don't believe David Moyes is the man for United, as i think he is a one club man. We will see.

For some, the retirement of an elderly man from his post is no big deal. If you don’t follow football then it’s probably meaningless. If you do follow football but don’t support United then it’s at the very least noteworthy. But if you’re a United fan old enough to remember the eighties and how football at Old Trafford used to be… If you were there in May 1993 when the title came back after an absence of 26 years… If you were there in 1994 when we won our first double…. If you were there in 1996 when a team of kids hauled back a 12 point deficit to win the league and then followed it up with an FA Cup final win against Liverpool… If you were there in Manchester and Wembley to see the first two stages of our Treble completed… And then in Barcelona to see the third added in the final two minutes of the season… If you were there to watch a team disassembled and then rebuilt to win a second hat-trick of titles and reach three Champions League finals in four years…. If you were there at Old Trafford two weeks ago to see the 20th title clinched with one of the most remarkable goals ever seen… If you were there for all these things then you know what this retirement means. Sir Alex Ferguson has given me and thousands like me some of the greatest moments of my life. Thank you Sir Alex. Football will never be quite the same again.

I might not be the man's biggest fan - some of his actions have been of a highly questionable nature - but I have nothing but respect for the achievements of Sir Alex Ferguson. It says a lot for his formidable talent that the league's other managers are probably breathing a huge sign of relief right now. The rest of us might actually have a chance now that old battleaxe has hung up his boots! A terrifyingly effective manager both for Aberdeen and Man United, his mark on football will never be forgotten, for both good and ill. Personal club preference aside, I have to tip my hat to the bloke. You don't have to like him, but only a fool would disrespect him.